NZ Bartercard Cup - Round 10
review

Round 10 of New Zealand's Bartercard Cup dished up some surprises with the Top 5 positions having a change around.

Otahuhu Ellerslie move into second spot on the ladder after a stand out performance against the North Harbour Tigers at home on Sunday.

Manawatu's Central Falcons achieved one of their best wins in the competition in beating former champions Mt Albert, of Auckland, 36-22 in Palmerston North on Saturday after trailing 14-8 at halftime. Coach Peter Sixtus was rapt. It lifted the Falcons to 10th among the 12 teams, and dropped the powerful Mt Albert to fourth.

Wai-Coa-Bay were within four points of Marist Richmond going into the final 10 minutes and thought the game was theirs when centre Darren Campbell-Benson ran behind the posts in the 73rd minute, only to have the try ruled out by a late forward pass call. "It's probably one of their better performances of the season and only for a few decisions that didn't go our way we could've come away with the prize," Reid said yesterday.

"We're only 10 points away from the top side in the competition. It's not all doom and gloom, we've just got to get that elusive win and get our season back on track."

Canterbury Bulls fans were left wondering when second-row forward Sam Wallace not only left the field but made an abrupt departure from Rugby League Park during Saturday night's game against Hibiscus Coast Raiders. Wallace is the elder son of former Kiwis hooker Wayne and a brother of resilient Australian-based loose forward Toby. Wallace's wife, Jasmine, had gone into labour at St George's Hospital.

Wellington player Simon Mannering showed the benefit of three weeks of fulltime training at the New Zealand Warriors in assisting Wellington to a 52-18 win over Eastern Tornadoes in Auckland. Mannering started at centre, and later moved in to the second row as Wellington imposed themselves in the second half at Ericsson No 2.

"Simon had a confidence and know-how that comes from being around class players, and we benefited from it," said Wellington coach Paul Bergman.

They scored 32 unanswered points in the second 40 minutes to end their run of three defeats, which lifted them to seventh on the Bartercard Cup points table, two points outside the top five.

Wellington led 20-18 at halftime after conceding three tries, which Bergman said were the result of "schoolboy errors". They scored 10 tries, two of them by Mannering.

BARTERCARD CUP - ROUND 10 RESULTS:

Saturday 10 July 2004

Central Falcons vs Mt Albert Lions Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

Central Falcons 36 W. Live, M. Whakatihi, T. Cahill, T. Clune, J. Watson, S. Forbes (2) : Tries N. Hohaia (4) : Goals

Mt Albert Lions 22 A. Fungapo, A. Swann (2), R. Baxter (2) : Tries S. Buckingham (1) : Goals

Halftime Score : 14 - 8 To Mt Albert Lions

Marist Richmond Brothers vs Waicoa Bay Stallions Grey Lynn Park, Auckland

Marist Richmond Brothers 20 K. Cawdron, K. Guttenbeil, T. Ropati (2) : Tries G. Rota (2) : Goals

Waicoa Bay Stallions 10 J. Auru, M. Walker : Tries T. Matthews (1) : Goals

Halftime Score : 8 - 0 To Marist Richmond Brothers

Canterbury Bulls vs Hibiscus Coast Raiders Rugby League Park, Christchurch

Canterbury Bulls 48 R. Martin, A. Harris, J. Manning, C. Newton, P. Asi (2), A. Timo (2) : Tries M. Clarkson (8) : Goals

Hibiscus Coast Raiders 14 T. Thompson, P. Prime, D. Tepu : Tries T. Thompson (1) : Goals

Halftime Score : 24 - 4 To Canterbury Bulls

Sunday 11 July 2004

Otahuhu Ellerslie vs North Harbour Tigers Henham Park, Auckland

Otahuhu Ellerslie 32 T. Leuluai, C. Wetini, D. Fisi'iahi (2), M. Vatuvei (3) : Tries C. Wetini (1), R. Johnson (1) : Goals

North Harbour Tigers 16 K. Johnson, L. Copestake, T. Samoa : Tries J. Trott (2) : Goals

Halftime Score : 16 - 6 To Otahuhu Ellerslie

Glenora Bears vs Counties Manukau Jetz Harold Moody Park, Auckland

Counties Manukau Jetz 50 L. Finnerty, G. Eliki, J. Ioapo, H. Barclay, A. Herangi, H. Fa'afili (2), A. Tusani (2) : Tries L. Finnerty (7) : Goals

Glenora Bears 26 L. Tamatoa, H. Guttenbeil, S. Ieremia, N. Presland, L. Toli : Tries B. Stewart (3) : Goals

Halftime Score : 28 - 16 To Counties Manukau Jetz

Eastern Tornadoes vs Wellington Ericsson No.2, Auckland

Wellington 52 J. MacDonald, T. Ioane, V. Manu, J. Davis, S. Mannering (2), D. Hape (2), J. Carnegie (2) : Tries J. MacDonald (6) : Goals

Eastern Tornadoes 18 T. Leaunoa, M. Latu, L. Lafaele : Tries H. Rangi (3) : Goals

Halftime Score : 20 - 18 To Wellington

BARTERCARD CUP FIXTURES - ROUND 11

Friday 16 July 2004

North Harbour Tigers vs Central Falcons North Harbour Stadium, Auckland 7.30pm Kick Off

Saturday 17 July 2004

Counties Manukau Jetz vs Otahuhu Ellerslie Massey Park, Papakura 2.30pm Kick Off

Glenora Bears vs Eastern Tornadoes Harold Moody Park, Auckland 2.30pm Kick Off

Waicoa Bay Stallions vs Mt Albert Lions Resthills Park, Hamilton 3.00pm Kick Off

Wellington vs Hibiscus Coast Raiders Wise Park, Wellington 3.00pm Kick Off

Sunday 18 July 2004

Marist Richmond Brothers vs Canterbury Bulls Ericsson Stadium, Auckland (Curtain Raiser To Warriors vs Rabbitohs) 11.35am Kick Off